After spending years working in his family’s restaurant, Kirk Burelle is ready to take on the name of Gary’s Harvest Restaurant and make it his own.

Many in Wilton know Gary’s, formerly located on Route 101, which served the community for more than 35 years, and excitement has been building around the soon-to-open Gary’s at a new location on Main Street. And the face of the owner, Kirk Burelle, is likely familiar to the restaurant’s former regulars.

Burelle is the son of Gary and Linda Burelle, former owners of the Route 101 Gary’s, which closed last year. Kirk Burelle has been part of the business ever since he can remember, he said in an interview while setting up in his new location last week.

“I’ve worked there since I was seven,” he said. “And it’s always been my dream to follow in my dad’s footsteps.”

That time is now, said Burelle, as his mother sold the family business last year, and Burelle returned to the area after spending a year in Boston, working as waitstaff in Harvard Square.

Many things about the new Gary’s will be familiar, said Burelle, including the menu – solid breakfasts and lunches with simple but hearty fare to start out with, with the possibility of opening for dinner.

“This is a dream come true for me,” said Burelle. “My heart is definitely in Wilton, and I can’t wait to bring some life back to and jump start Main Street.”

Last year, Main Street lost two restaurants, Antonia’s Greek Kitchen and Pizzaria and Roam Cafe, but since that time, new food and drink options have been slowly taking their place, including the Skybridge Cafe, Local Share coffeehouse and now with the opening of Gary’s set within the week.

“It’s been a lot of work, but it definitely feels like a good thing,” said Burelle. “I can’t wait to serve the community for many years to come.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.